Matthew 18 · Verse 22

Matthew 18:22

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:22, King James Version

Matthew 18:22 in other translations

BSB	Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
WEB	Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
ASV	Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
YLT	Jesus saith to him, ‘I do not say to thee till seven times, but till seventy times seven.
DARBY	Jesus says to him, I say not to thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven.
BBE	Jesus says to him, I say not to you, Till seven times; but, Till seventy times seven.
Webster	Jesus saith to him, I say not to thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

What does Matthew 18:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven--that is, so long as it shall be needed and sought: you are never to come to the point of refusing forgiveness sincerely asked. (See on Lu 17:3, 4).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 22. Mt 18:21

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 22 Seventy times seven - There is something very remarkable in these words, especially if collated with Gen 4:24, where the very same words are used - "If any man kill Lamech, he shall be avenged seventy times seven." The just God punishes sin in an exemplary manner. Sinful man, who is exposed to the stroke of Divine justice, should be abundant in forgiveness, especially as the merciful only shall find mercy. See the note on Mat 5:7, and on Mat 6:14, Mat 6:15 (note). The sum seventy times seven makes four hundred and ninety. Now an offense, properly such, is that which is given wantonly, maliciously, and without Any Provocation. It is my opinion, that, let a man search ever so accurately, he will not find that he has received, during the whole course of his life, four hundred and ninety such offenses. If the man who receives the offense has given any cause for it, in that case, the half of the offense, at least, towards his brother, ceases.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 18:21-35

Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how much provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master's wonderful clemency. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. See here what every sin deserves; this is the wages of sin, to be…

Read the full comment on Matthew 18:21-35 →

Matthew 18:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΛέγειLegeiSaysG3004

αὐτῷautōto himG846

ὁho<the>G3588

Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424

οὐouNotG3756

λέγωlegōI sayG3004

σοιsoito youG4771

ἕωςhe'ōsup toG2193

ἑπτάκιςheptakisseven timesG2034

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ἕωςhe'ōsup toG2193

ἑβδομηκοντάκιςhebdomēkontakisseventy timesG1441

ἑπτά.¶heptaseven!G2033

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 18:22

Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Mark 11:25
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Genesis 4:24
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
Ephesians 4:31-5:1
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Matthew 6:14-15
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Ephesians 4:26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Micah 7:19
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Matthew 6:11-12
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

but.
6:11,12,14,15; Isa 55:7; Mic 7:19; Mr 11:25,26; Ro 12:21
Eph 4:26,31,32; 5:1; Col 3:13; 1Ti 2:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 18:21
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Matthew 18:22
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:23
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Read all of Matthew 18

Matthew 18:22 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Jesús le dice: No te digo hasta siete, mas aun hasta setenta veces siete.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Jésus lui dit: Je ne te dis pas jusqu’à sept fois, mais jusqu’à 70 fois sept fois.
German Elberfelder 1871	Jesus spricht zu ihm: Nicht sage ich dir, bis siebenmal, sondern bis siebzig mal sieben.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Dicit illi Jesus: Non dico tibi usque septies: sed usque septuagies septies.